University of Ottawa Students' Union
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Syndicat étudiant de l'Université d'Ottawa | |
| Motto | Committed to Improving Student Lives |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Student Federation of the University of Ottawa |
| Formation | 2019 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | Student association |
| Headquarters | 7-85 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 |
| Location | |
Membership (2022) | 38,000 |
President | Delphine Robitaille |
Executive Director | Meredith Kerr |
Chair of the Board | Nora Afifi |
| Website | seuo-uosu |
The University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) (French: Syndicat étudiant de l'Université d'Ottawa (SÉUO)) is the student organization representing undergraduate students of the University of Ottawa. It succeeded the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) following its dissolution in 2019.[1]
History[edit]
The SFUO represented University of Ottawa undergraduate students from 1969 to 2018. Due to fraud and embezzlement allegations, the University of Ottawa announced that it would terminate its agreement with SFUO.[2][3]
To determine whether or not the SFUO could remain in place, the university organized a referendum on which organization should represent undergraduate students.[4] UOSU ran on decreasing politicization, increasing student power, and decreasing centralization within the Union. Meanwhile, the SFUO believed that it was best positioned to maintain the services and resources that students had access to.[5] UOSU won the referendum overwhelmingly.[6]
The University then signed a new agreement with UOSU, outlining additional oversight and financial transparency measures, and recognizing it as the sole voice of undergraduate students at the University.[7]
In 2020, the position of President was established, with Babacar Faye as its inaugural office holder.[8][9]
Governance[edit]
The University of Ottawa Students' Union is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. The Union itself was governed by its Constitution, which establishes its political apparatus and component organs.[10]
General Assembly[edit]
The General Assembly (GA) is the highest governing body within UOSU and is composed of all of the members of the Union. The General Assembly meets twice annually, once in the fall and winter semesters, respectively. Except as limited by the Constitution, the GA may pass resolutions that bind the Board and Executive Committee. The GA has authority over amending UOSU's Constitution.[11]
Board of Directors[edit]
The Board of Directors governs and provides oversight to UOSU. It comprises 30 members that serve 1-year terms: a President, 6 Commissioners, 22 Directors elected from their faculties, and 1 Indigenous Director, elected through the Indigenous Students' Association. Each faculty has between 1 and 5 Directors.[12]
The Board meets publicly every month. The Board delegates much of its responsibilities to various committees, each focusing on a specific area of concern.[12]
Executive Committee[edit]
The Executive Committee (EXEC) manages the day-to-day operations of UOSU, with specific jurisdiction over human resources and signing contracts. The EXEC is composed of 7 full-time, paid undergraduate students: the President, and 6 Commissioners. Each Commissioner is responsible for a specific aspect of the organization. They include the Equity, Francophone Affairs, Student Life, Clubs and Services, Advocacy, and Communications Commissioners.[13]
| 2023-2024 Executive Committee | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Name | Faculty |
| President | vacant (until November 12, 2023) | – |
| Delphine Robitaille (from November 12, 2023) | Social Sciences | |
| Advocacy Commissioner | Maisy Elspeth (until March 8, 2024) | Science |
| Francophone Affairs Commissioner | vacant (until November 12, 2023) | – |
| Amine El-Idrissi (interim; until November 12, 2023) | Social Sciences | |
| Tristan Maldonado-Rodriguez (until March 8, 2024) | N/A[lower-alpha 1] | |
| Operations Commissioner | Fiona Broughton (until August 25, 2023) | Arts |
| Jessika Salambere (interim; from January 1, 2024) | Telfer School of Management | |
| Student Life Commissioner | Rayne Daprato | Social Sciences |
| Clubs & Services Commissioner[lower-alpha 2] | vacant (until November 12, 2023) | – |
| Communications Commissioner | Daniel Thorp | Engineering |
| Equity Commissioner | Joyce Williams (until November 12, 2023) | Telfer School of Management |
| Imani Bunzigiye (interim; from January 1, 2024) | Engineering | |
Clubs and Student Governments[edit]
Clubs[edit]
UOSU recognizes over 360 different clubs and associations related to all aspects of student life, from powerlifting to chess to politics.[14]
Recognized Student Governments[edit]
Recognized Student Governments (RSGs) are autonomous, but affiliated organizations representing students from different undergraduate programs. UOSU recognizes 25 RSGs and funds them on a per-student basis.[10]
Businesses and Services[edit]
The UOSU operates businesses and offers services that students and/or the public may access.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Bike Co-op | Cyclist resources and services |
| Bilingualism Centre | Second-language learning assistance and linguistic rights advocacy |
| Centre for Students with Disabilities | Disability rights advocacy |
| Clubs Administration Service | Club regulation and management |
| Feminist Resource Centre | Feminist advocacy and support |
| UOSU Food Bank | Food bank |
| Foot Patrol | Volunteer-based safe walk service |
| International House | International students' rights advocacy |
| Multi-Faith Centre | Religious pluralist advocacy |
| Peer Help Centre | Academic, personal, and social support |
| PIVIK | Convenience store |
| Pride Centre | LGBTQ+ advocacy |
| Racialized and Indigenous Students Experience Centre | Multiracial and Indigenous advocacy and activism |
| Student Rights Centre | Student-initiated appeals to the university administration |
| Sustainable Development Centre | Environmental sustainability awareness |
| Zoom Productions | Photography and videography |
Controversies[edit]
uOttawa Students for Life[edit]
In 2019, uOttawa Students for Life (UOSFL), a club that advocated against abortion rights on campus, received provisional club status, giving them funding from UOSU and the right to book spaces on campus, sparking controversy.[15][16] A special General Assembly meeting was called when a petition demanding the Union remove club status from UOSFL and adopt a pro-choice stance was signed by 500 students and presented to the Union. The meeting failed to reach quorum.[17] In January 2020, the Board of Directors stripped UOSFL of club status.[18]
CHUO-FM Referendum[edit]
During the October 2023 by-elections, UOSA members voted to eliminate a tuition levy that funded CHUO-FM, a local campus radio station. The levy was set at $4.99 per student, which accounted for between $360,000-$380,000 of annual funding, or around 80% of its total funding. The radio station criticized the decision, saying their survival was at risk, and the referendum was legally questionable.[19][20][21]
At the General Assembly meeting following the referendum, the referendum was not ratified after the Board received legal advice to reject it. According to President-elect Delphine Robitaille, it would have been a "legal liability." There is no similar precedent for not ratifying referendum results.[22] During the 2024 general elections, the referendum was approved again.
Elections[edit]
General elections are held during the Winter term, either in February or March, to elect the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.[12]
2024[edit]
General elections were held on February 18, 2024. Turnout was 6.74%. President Delphine Robitaille was re-elected unopposed. Interim Equity Commissioner was elected to a full term, and Interim Francophone Affairs Commissioner was defeated by Daphnée Veilleux-Michaud. 3 Executive positions were left vacant: Student Life, Communications, and Advocacy Commissioner.[23]
2023[edit]
General Elections[edit]
General elections were held from March 5-9, 2023.[24] Turnout was 3.8%. Only 1 Executive Position was contested, with Joyce Williams being elected Equity Commissioner with 51.7% of the vote. The Operations and Advocacy Commissioners were elected unopposed. Faculty Directors were elected.[25]
By-elections[edit]
By-elections were held from October 9-14, 2023.[26] Turnout was 7.7%. The positions of President, Student Life Commissioner, Francophone Affairs Commissioner and Communications Commissioner were filled. Additionally, 5 Director seats and 3 Senate seats were filled.[27]
Students voted in 10 referenda during the by-elections. 9 of them passed, including an 11% reduction in Union fees, resulting in a $500,000 cut to its budget.[27]
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Maldonado-Rodriguez was a non-degree student, meaning he did not belong to any specific faculty.
- ↑ The position of Clubs & Services Commissioner was abolished after the passing of constitutional amendments at the organization's 2023 Autumn General Assembly and was subsequently replaced by the Communications Commissioner.
References[edit]
- ↑ Miller, Jacquie (February 12, 2019). "uOttawa students vote out student federation accused of mismanagement". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ Sharma, Anchal; Awde, Savannah (August 10, 2018). "SFUO president, executive coordinator, face allegations of fraud". The Fulcrum. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ Gillis, Megan (September 25, 2018). "uOttawa to terminate agreement with student federation". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ Miller, Jacquie (2018-11-12). "uOttawa students will vote on a new association to represent them, administration says". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Gergyek, Matt (2018-11-04). "The SFUO versus the UOSU". Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Davison, Erin (February 12, 2019). "UOSU defeats SFUO in referendum". The Fulcrum. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ↑ Sharma, Anchal (2019-04-11). "University signs agreement with UOSU". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Bridget (2020-01-23). "UOSU adds president to executive structure at BOD meeting". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Bridget (2020-03-28). "Babacar Faye wins tight race to become UOSU's first president". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Governing Documents". Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ "General Assembly". Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Board of Directors". Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ "Meet Your Team". Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ "uOttawa Clubs List". Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ Riccio, Stephen (2019-11-07). "Free speech, student funding for controversial club in question at uOttawa". Glue Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ↑ Charley (2019-10-28). "Anti-abortion group regains club status, sparking petition to reverse decision". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ↑ Jackson, Emma (2020-01-14). "Pro-life group loses status at uOttawa". The Charlatan, Carleton's independent newspaper. Archived from the original on 2024-03-31. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ Casalino, Meagan (2020-01-17). "UOSU revokes club status of anti-abortion group". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ↑ CBC (2023-10-17). "Student vote to end funding for campus radio station CHUO". CBC. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ Kerr, John (2023-11-16). "CHUO loses its campus radio funding at the University of Ottawa". The Silhouette. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Coady, Bridget (2023-10-10). "CHUO Open letter to U of O students: Why CHUO, and why now?". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Benjamin, Amira (2023-12-01). "What you missed at the 2023 UOSU Autumn General Assembly". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Coady, Bridget (2024-03-07). "UOSU 2024 general election results". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ↑ Mutombo, Yannick (2023-02-04). "UOSU: A look into the 2023-2024 General Elections". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ "Results". uosu-seuo.simplyvoting.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ Coady, Bridget (2023-10-26). "UOSU by-election withdrawal". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Coady, Bridget (2024-03-07). "UOSU 2024 general election results". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
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